Tuesday, May 21, 2013

TSA Travel Tips Tuesday - Summer 2013 Travel Tips

Summer is almost
here! People all over the country are getting their pools and patio furniture
ready for the warmer days to come. Many are preparing for travel too! Whether
you’re going on a family vacation or a business trip, there is sure to be some
helpful information for you in this post. Have a great summer!

TSA
Pre✓™ and other Risk Based
Expedited Screening:
TSA has implemented TSAPre✓™, anexpedited
prescreening initiative for known travelers, active duty service members and airline crewmembers at select airports, and
modified procedures for screening passengers 12 and under
and 75 and older to reduce, although not eliminate, the need for a pat-down. TSA
Pre✓™ is currently available
in 40 airports. As of today, 10,000,000
passengers have been screened through TSA Pre✓™ lanes!

The
MyTSA App: Want
TSA information anywhere, anytime? Use the MyTSA app. Among the great features, there’s a “Can I
Bring My…” tool. Want to know if you can pack a certain item? This is the tool
for you. Type in the name of the item you’re curious about and it tells you if
the item is permitted or not, along with packing tips. This isn’t a Magic 8
Ball, so please don’t expect it to prophetically answer yes and no questions. A
wait time feature is also available. It relies on crowd sourcing, which
means the more people who use it, the better.

TSA
Cares Helpline:
Travelers or families of passengers with disabilities and medical conditions
may call the TSA Cares helpline toll free 855-787-2227, 72 hours prior to traveling with any
questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security
checkpoint. A TSA Cares helpline representative is available during all TSA
Contact Center hours.

Passenger
Support Specialists:PSS’s are Transportation
Security Officers, Lead TSOs and Supervisors who have volunteered to take on
the responsibility of assisting passengers who may need a little help at the
checkpoint. If you need assistance, or you’re concerned about your screening,
you can request a PSS and they’ll help you with whatever issue it is you might
be having. Read this post for more information.

Jewelry: So what’s the scoop? Should you remove
jewelry or keep it on to go through security? The answer, in most cases is that
you can keep it on, but there are a few different choices that you can make
based on what kind of jewelry it is. Read this post for more information.

How
to Avoid Additional Screening: The most important tip to help you avoid a
pat-down is to take everything out of your pockets before screening and put
items in your carry-on bag. Don't wear clothes with a high metal content, and
put heavy jewelry on after you go through security. If you have a hidden
medical device (insulin pump, ostomy bag, brace, etc.), please let the officer
know.

Destination
Weddings:
Getting married soon? We’ve been asked about it a lot lately on our My TSA
app, so we wrote a post on it. Be sure to check it out
for some great tips.

Camping,
Hunting, or Fishing: If
you’re heading to the great outdoors, be sure to check out this post for tips on traveling with camping and fishing gear.

Traveling
With a Pet: TSA does not
prohibit travel with pets. However, it is very important that you contact your
airline first so they can let you know about any requirements, fees, or
restrictions they might have. Read here for more information.

Double
Check Your Bag for Guns: Seriously!!!It sounds silly, but if you read our Week in Review
posts, you’ll see that our officers find guns every day at checkpoints in the
U.S. A good percentage of those are loaded. Save yourself the hassle of a
bag check, a police interview and a potential arrest by making sure you leave your
gun at home.

Traveling
With Children: Did
you know that children 12 and under can keep their shoes on?If you’re
going on a family trip this summer, be sure to click here for more
tips and information on traveling with the little crumb-snatchers.

Shaving
Razors: You
can get more info from our blog post on this subject where the pictures will answer
all of your questions.

Forgotten
or Lost IDs:
If you have lost or forgotten your ID, you will still be permitted to fly as
long as you help us verify you are who you say you are by answering a few
questions. Read this post for more information.

Liquids,
Gels & Aerosols:
If you’re checking a bag, make things simple by packing liquids in your checked
luggage. That way, you don’t have to worry about the liquids rules. (If
you’re concerned about them leaking, do what I do and put them in a zip-top
bag.) But I know that doesn’t work for everyone if you’re only bringing a
carry-on bag. If you have to take liquids in your carry-on, please
continue reading… You can read here for more details, but here is the gist: each passenger is
allowed to take as many 3.4 ounce or less sized containers that will fit
in one sealed clear quart-sized zip-top bag – and one bag per
person. Make sure you take the zip-top bag out of your carry-on
prior to sending it through the X-ray.

Here
is some information on frequently asked liquid, aerosol and gel items:

Suntan & Sun Block Lotion: Lotions – both pump and aerosol - fall under the procedures
that I mentioned above. Sun block sticks do not fall under this rule.

Makeup: Any liquid makeup cosmetics such as eyeliner, nail polish,
liquid foundation, etc. should be placed in the baggie. That goes for perfume
as well. Powder makeup is fine.

Beverages: Wine, liquor, beer, and all of your favorite beverages are
permitted in your checked baggage. You can also bring beverages
packaged in 3.4 oz or less bottles in your carry-on bags in the baggie.

"Make it easy on yourself and everyone around you by not taking any 'carry-on' bag. Check everything you can in your regular luggage."

Overlooking that most airlines charge extra for even one checked bag now I have never felt it was responsible to put anything in a checked bag you will need within 24 hours. Unfortunately though there is a lot of medication put in checked bags, some of it needed upon arrival. Not a good idea at all. I'm sure not recommended by TSA either but sometimes done because they do have a reputation for damaging medications in carry on inspection.

It has been over a month, and the TSA blog is still resolutely refusing to answer any questions or make any statements about the mistreatment of Sai by the SFO TSA personnel who felt themselves more qualified to determine Sai's medical needs than his own doctor, ignored TSA policy, and refused to allow him to travel with his medical liquids.

Once again, I am asking for you, Bobby, to comment on this. I understand that it doesn't fit into your normal "blame the passenger" narrative, especially since the TSOs involved were caught on video violating Sai's rights. I also realize that it doesn't fall into your fallback "the TSOs were just following policy" narrative, since Sai has very carefully documented the TSA policies that the TSOs felt compelled to disregard.

So I know it's hard for you. It's not the passenger's fault. The TSOs involved were clearly violating policy. They violated his rights and deprived him of access to his medical liquids, and there's no side-stepping it. You don't want to admit that the TSA can ever be wrong, so you're hoping it will go away.

It will not go away, Bobby. I will continue to demand a response from the TSA blog on this matter until you finally muster up the courage to actually address an instance in which the TSA is blatantly, unquestionably, and undeniably WRONG.

@ Anonymous #1: The Pre Check program was originally designed for frequent flyers and for individuals that have been approved through Custom and Border Protection's Global Entry program. If flying was a normal weekly routine for you, wouldn't you want a program that expedited you through security?

@Anonymous #2: Was anyone there to witness this lady's claim? The victim claimed that the dog bit her and left in a second and that's how quickly the dog bit her, and she didn't feel anything. Sounds like she needed attention and/or money.

Bob, why are you and/or other TSA employees posting anonymously on this government website? "Anonymous" from May 24 at 6:06pm is almost certainly a government employee. A TSA employee should not hide his identity on this official TSA blog.

Anonymous said...Bob, why are you and/or other TSA employees posting anonymously on this government website? "Anonymous" from May 24 at 6:06pm is almost certainly a government employee. A TSA employee should not hide his identity on this official TSA blog.

May 27, 2013 at 6:25 AM.................

TSA employees hide their identity while on the job so what makes you think they can't do it here on the TSA Blog?

All of this is confusing. It is stated by TSA on this and other pages: toothpaste and stick deodorant does not have to be in a 3-1-1- baggie. All liquids, lotions, creams (liquid makeup) do. I traveled in May; on the first flight the TSA agent was trying to keep the line moving; he asked me if I had anything like toothpaste and deodorant in my carry on bag. I told him no. My friend visited me this week. She showed me her BOTTLE of LIQUID perfume in her cosmetic bag, along with gel liquid eye liner, small jars of cream, toothpaste. I asked her why such a big bottle of perfume--like it so brought it. She said TSA did not search her bag for that liquid or the other stuff that TSA says here is required to be in that little baggie and she just went through. Does the fact she is 80 years old and in a wheelchair have any bearing on not being singled out to go through the carry on bag or have to declare that stuff in a baggie have a bearing on this?

I rarely check a bag. It's true and the first few times working with the 3-1-1 system was a little confusing and frustrating, but I got my system down and now it goes like clockwork. I have a travel kit ready to go, in a nice little clear cosmetic bag that's TSA approved. All I have to do is refill which ever of my products are running low.

Now my only frustrations are with other passengers who aren't prepared.